BenK wrote: Personally LOVE tight, torsionally rigid frame/suspensions on my cars,
but on my trucks, not always.
I don't recommend installing rear anti-sway bars without also changing
the front anti-sway bar to match the front/rear torsional bias dialed
in by the OEM.
Over steering on a car is completely different than on a looooooong
truck and even worse on a TV towing a TT.
The transition from neutral or understeering to oversteering can be
abrupt or at the other end, ramped up slowly and telling by tire
squeal.
Factored by tire/wheel/shock and air pressure in the tires.
You will not know where/when that transition will be, unless you go
out and purposely get the truck sideways on many conditions (speed,
wet/dry, pavement, etc, etc, etc).
I know how my 2 seater handles when it gets to the transition point
from neutral to oversteering. Whether by braking, throttle, or speed.
But it's only about 2,400 lbs with me in it, and less than half the
length of my Suburban. Have also put my Suburban sideways to see how
it handles and can say, a hand full and can't imagine it with something
in tow.
After market rear anti-sway bars usually has a complimentary front
bar they sell. Get it.
I have always stayed away from changing sway bars because of Ben's advice, both in this forum and others. He is extremely knowledgeable about these things. I'm not.
Would you carry this interpretation to my X that has no rear sway bar? I see the logic of the argument I guess if all models came with matched bars, but as I understand it, only certain X's came with OEM rear sway bars. Using Ben's logic, I would think one of the two groups of X's is unbalanced as, to my knowledge, they only made one front sway bar type. So, which one is right? Seems to me the better balance would be with both sway bars in place, which is the situation I am trying to replicate as mine has no OEM rear sway bar. I have never heard this race car analogy applied to tow vehicles before - not saying it is incorrect, this is just the first I have heard of it.
jspringator wrote: I have always stayed away from changing sway bars because of Ben's advice, both in this forum and others. He is extremely knowledgeable about these things. I'm not.
Except in this case. it is money well spent. there is NO ill effects of installing a rear sway bar. only positives!
Wife kim
Son brandon 7yrs
Daughter marissa 6yrs
Dog shadow
07 Cherokee 32B
02 Excursion 4X4 V-10 4.30 gear
Reese HP dualcam,Prodigy brake controller,
Air lift air bags.
Better to have a bad day of
camping than a good day at work!
if you can get the numbers off the tag on the rear and post them I or someone else can tell you what you got,but like you said more then likely 3:73s that was the standard gear unless ordered differently
What's the trick to getting that kind of mileage? I get 12.5 in town, and 15 highway at 65 mph. The diesel F-250 guys claim better mileage with a larger, Ford issued, air dam. Is there anything like that for us?
I've decided to give the RAS system a go first before purchasing the Hellwig. I will keep everyone up to speed on that. A couple more questions that I would like some input on that I am working through:
1) Everyone here has mentioned load range 'E' tires. Mine has 'D" load range tires on it that are rated for just over 3,000 lbs each. Rear axle is rated at 5,200 lbs. Even with my hitch weight I intend to be running right at GVW not over. I would definitely weigh this combo before I headed down the road, but if my rear axle weights are within spec, how big a deal are upgrading the tires? I will definitiely do it at the next tire purchase, but is it bad enought to warrant trashing 50-60% tread tires at this point? Keep in mind I am only pulling a 25' trailer that is much less than many X towers pull....
and
2) My X has regular oval shaped mirrors (non-towing, non-extendable) electric, heated mirrors. Has anyone actually swapped these for truck style towing mirrors? Did you buy new or try a salvage yard? My other option are CIPO (I think that's right) slip ons, which is what I use on my truck. They work OK, but make the vehicle very wide if you leave them on, and a pain to keep track of if you leave them off. I can do these if necessary, but are there any other better suggestions here?
The best part of the X is the towing mirrors. I appreciate them more when not towing, and I rarely pull them out. It is the wide angle bottom mirror that is so useful in every day driving. I would try to get them through an online salvage yard, or e-bay. Of course, I would try what I had before I bought anything. You might be able to engineer some kind of swap with a salvage yard.
Load range D tires have a squisher sidewall, which MAY give more sway than you like. You may be able to compensate for that with your sway control, or it may not be objectionable to you. Try it and see how it does.
When I bought my Ex about 3 years ago it had the smaller paddle style mirrors. I went to my local dealer and bought power and heater towing mirrors for a little over $300. I know that is expensive but I wanted them quick. It was a simple change out and a direct replacement and well worth the money. And for what it is worth, I put a Helwig sway bar on my Ex and did not notice a difference. But my Ex did not have the wandering problem that a lot of others seem to have.
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